Quotes from Jessica Alba

Young women should pave their own path. I find it quite confining to live up to anybody else's expectations of who you should be.

I would like to dedicate this award to a young man who has been on my mind for the last 19 years: Ross. Ross didn't love me. I was pigeon-toed, I had a sway back, I was slightly cross-eyed, buck-toothed, I sucked my thumb. Look at me now, Ross! Look at me now!

It's not always so great to be objectified, but I don't feel I have much of a choice right now. I'm young in my career. I know I have to strike when the iron is hot.

As a girl, I was always told I was nasty or dirty if I was sexual in any way. Americans are such prudes.

We're such a rich country -- why do we have this many homeless people? It's not just about people who are homeless on drugs; it's about families that make too much money to apply for welfare, but they don't make enough to survive. They're stuck in the middle. What is that?

There's a lot of pressure on women to fulfill certain fantasies. They expect you to be a little bit of a tart, to flirt with all the men. A lot of women do it. But I'm not doing that. I talk with these guys about their wives and kids right away. When they say inappropriate things, I let them, because boys will be boys, but I'm not looking to participate in their conversations.

A parent knows better than any book or "expert" what their kid really needs.

It seems like all the people who are really impressed with themselves in school -- it's like that's their whole life. What's after that? I was always attracted to the people who thought beyond school and of their future and who they would be as adults.

I can't tell you how great it is to get away with a girlfriend for four days shopping in Paris. Now that's what I call a vacation.

The films I do always have a happy ending. I hope it reflects back to real life.

As for Cash and me, it's a never-ending, ever-evolving process--I believe that's known as "marriage".

As a kid, I was always sick. I had pneumonia, I had really severe allergies. And it wasn't until I got older, that I realized some of that was caused by toxins in things like detergent. That made me crazy, because it's supposed to help get things clean!

All moms need confidants who are in their shoes and can relate to what they're going through. You need a night out together to be who you are, and not feel like you have to be the career woman, wife and mommy--all at once. After all, we're not superwomen.

Parents try the best they can. They want the best for you. But a lot of their stuff is just their own. If you can pull yourself away from it and not always feel like they're attacking you, then it's easier to deal with.

Especially in entertainment geared toward young people, the women are much stronger than they used to be. There's not really the damsel in distress anymore. I think the stereotype still possibly lives in different genre pictures but, in entertainment for the younger generation, they're used to women being equal and being strong. I think if you don't portray that, it would be kind of weird.

There's no such thing as a perfect guy. I think it would be strange if somebody was absolutely everything you always wanted, because then there'd be no challenge. Also, you'd feel inferior. If somebody is that perfect, how can you not think of yourself as being so imperfect next to him? I think people are perfect in their imperfections.

I could have sexual chemistry with vinegar.

My theory is that if you look confident you can pull off anything - even if you have no clue what you're doing.

But I don't feel the need to be famous.

You have to be the best of whatever you are, but successful, cool actresses come in all shapes and sizes.

I'm all about supporting anyone whose art is also the way they make their living.

I don't put weight on fame, and having people around me just because I am famous makes me feel really bad about myself.

I thought it was my job to give all the boys their first kiss.

Everyone has an opinion of who you are and what your relationship is about, things that you've done or didn't do in your relationship - and it's just all crap, really. Things that are written about it are all crap.